“Incantation”, the first New Christs studio album in five years, hits the shelves on June 6. Recorded by Jim Moginie (Midnight Oil) in his Sydney studio and mixed at the famed Alberts Studios by award winning engineer Wayne Connolly, you can see the cover artwork at right and can hear the first single, "Waves Form", by clicking More (if you're on the front page) or by scrolling down (if you landed direct.)
The album is said to highlight the band’s diverse song-writing talents while maintaining the high-energy performance they have become known for across their three-decade long history.
The pre-release blurb says “Incantations" opens in party mode with "Ghostlike", a stomp that kicks in hard and never lets up.
“The New Christs move into their unique and familiar rock sound tinged with surf and garage on tracks like ‘Waves Form’ and the intriguing spy movie theme ‘Unless’," the media release continues.
“’It Means Everything’” will more than satisfy the rock ’n’ roll crew, and thereʼs a relentless grind and menace to "Itʼs Not A Game" and "Precious Little". Overwhelmingly however, the record is speckled with moments of pure pop: ‘Golden Street’ and ‘We Are Lovers’ reveal a delicate side of The New Christs with Rob Younger singing in a lower register to great effect.
“Then there is the gloriously bittersweet ‘This Is A Party’, that would sit well alongside older gems like ‘On Top Of Me’ (We Got This, 2002).”
The band has kept busy during the album’s writing and recording, completing two European tours, numerous Australian shows and playing at the Melbourne leg of Dig It Up! in 2012.
Their last trip to Europe saw influential Spanish magazine Ruta 66 declare them “best international live act” for that year. Their Paris show was also a traffic stopper, literally, playing to a clogged street full of ecstatic rock fans for the annual Fête de la Musique.
With a line-up that consists of founding member and vocalist Rob Younger (Radio Birdman) alongside longtime members Jim Dickson (bass), Dave Kettley (guitar) and Brent Williams (keyboards/ guitar), "Incantations" is the first recorded material featuring drummer Paul Larsen Loughhead. Originally borrowed from the Celibate Rifles for The New Christs European tour in 2011, he has now become a full-time member of the band.
The New Christs are now ready to take “Incantations” to the stage with a European tour booked for June-July and Australian launch dates to follow in August.
The album is released in Australia via Impedance Records/Rocket Distribution. 'Incantations' can be pre ordered for Australia here. Overseas release details will be announced with European tour dates next week.
